TED Talks Daily The multidimensional magic of modern maps | Peter Wilczynski
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Jul 29, 2025 
Digital cartographer Peter Wilczynski discusses the innovative Living Globe, a real-time digital twin of Earth that combines satellite imagery, sensor data, and AI. He explores how modern maps can transform urban planning and disaster response, particularly in preventing wildfires and enhancing community safety. Wilczynski emphasizes the importance of dynamic mapping in addressing environmental challenges, as we rethink urban development to harmonize with nature. This new approach could reshape our cities and improve our relationship with the planet.
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Maps: Understanding and Shaping
- Maps have historically helped us understand and shape the built environment around us.
- Digitization has made maps portable, shrinking entire libraries into devices we carry every day.
Living Globe: Dynamic Earth Digital Twin
- The cybernetic age demands cartography evolve to include robotics and AI integration with the physical world.
- This enables the creation of a dynamic digital twin of Earth called the Living Globe.
LA Wildfires: Maps vs. Water Need
- During the Los Angeles wildfires, maps guided responders and showed damage but couldn't provide resources like water.
- Wilczynski envisions infrastructure and firefighting robots proactively stopping fires before they start.